ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Communications has assured Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan of better highway facilities soon.

Minister of State for Communications Murad Saeed, during a meeting with KP Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Shahram Khan Tarkai on Wednesday, promised that all communication facilities would be provided to the province, a press release said.

Provision of public facilities on the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway (M-1) was discussed. Communi­cations Secretary Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui and senior officials of the ministry and the National Highway Authority (NHA) were also present in the meeting.

Murad Saeed assured Shahram Khan Tarkai that all travelling facilities would be provided to the KP people. “An interchange on Adeena Lahore Road, better service area and service road along the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway will be provided soon,” he added.

Mr Tarkai stressed the need for building an interchange on the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway, adding that construction of an interchange on Adeena Lahore road in Swabi district was a long-standing demand of the area people.

Balochistan roads

Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani, during a meeting with the NHA chairman, called for completion all road projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) within the stipulated time.

When contacted, NHA Chairman Jawad Rafiq Malik said he briefed the CM on the ongoing and future road projects in the province.

Leaders of the Balochistan Awami Party, including Minister for Defence Production Zubaida Jalal and Adviser to the CM Abdul Qadir also attended the meeting. The issue of shortage of funds confronting the NHA also came under discussion.

The chief minister asked the NHA chairman to expedite work on the ongoing projects, including Basima-Khuzdar Road, D.I. Khan-Zhob Road and Zhob-Yari Road.

Mr Malik said he informed CM Alyani that the NHA had sought bids for launching Basima-Khuzdar Road. “We hope the project will start within two months,” he added.

It is learnt that almost all mega highway projects of the NHA have been hit by financial crunch and some contractors have stopped construction while others have slowed down. CM Alyani asked the NHA chairman to provide funds to the contractors for completion of the ongoing projects, especially those being executed in Balochistan. Work on 17 road infrastructure projects is continuing in backward areas of the province to bring them an a par with developed areas.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2018